First, and foremost I have mentioned in my previous article on this blog that I have discussed with someone on twitter from couple weeks ago, or so that I mentioned to him while it's true a team like the Chicago Bulls needs to acquire some athleticism but also it is very important to get a player that are very skilled don't want to end up getting a player who just athletic such as Tyrus Thomas, Josh Smith, and many more. Teams have to be very careful acquiring a player who is athletic because not all players that are athletic will blossom again as the names I have mentioned above you don't want players who are just athletic, and nothing else don't want just a flash in the pan you want substance.
Now, there are benefits acquiring players that are athletic that a teams want some athleticism for the team, and there is a good reason for it. What are those good benefits I am talking about? What is the good reason for teams looking for players who are athletic? You may also ask what those players who are athletic can do on the basketball court? While the players work on their game to improve their skills as a basketball player that can help their team but also players who are athletic got to learn to understand how to use their athleticism as an advantage to help their team.
I am going to tell the benefits of acquiring players who are athletic from both ends on the basketball court offense, and defense.
Benefits for Athletic players on offense
I will start with what the benefits for the players for players who are athletic that can help the team in terms of contribution. Keep in mind that not all players who are athletic no matter what position they play some maybe one dimensional, or some other players are not good in a certain area, or aspects to the game which can't use their athletic ability for that certain aspect, or not good in one end. I will give examples, and discuss briefly about it in a while on this article.
On offense there are players who are athletic have the athletic ability to get in transition for the easy basket. Now, I know and aware that there are players maybe able to get in transition for easy baskets that are not athletic which is fine in some other levels in basketball such as high school, junior high, recreation leagues but to a degree you may need to find a player that are athletic that can use their athletic ability when they get in transition. Let me give you the example below this I am going to give you a video from YouTube.
Civic A:
Civic A is a good example regarding athletic player getting in transition, and use his athletic ability to get the easy basket. Have you ever see a player, or players who isn't athletic attempted to get in transition for a fast break to get easy baskets in the NBA? I have bunch of times, and lot of times they will failed to convert the easy baskets in transition especially when there is a defender, or defenders try to stop the attempted for the fast break because they don't have the athletic ability to finished above the rim. As of right now I can't find the video to give you the example of a team, or player, or players who isn't athletic enough to finished above the rim failed in transition in the NBA so if you have watched the Chicago Bulls which are a good example for the last two seasons are probably the most nonathletic team which lot of times they failed to convert a basket in transition.
Another benefit, and advantage for an athletic player that can use his athletic ability not just only in transition but also in half court when everything slow down, and not in a fast pace game. There are ton of players in the NBA use their athletic ability in the half court to contribute on offense there is even some players have to rely lot of their athleticism to do any contribution on offense. I am going to give you a few examples since there is ton of players who use their athleticism using their athletic ability here is the first example.
Civic B:
You can see, and if you are familiar with Blake Griffin's game, and see you play bunch of times he rely on his athleticism a lot. He is not known as a good jump shooter in a pick and pop game, nor known to stretch the floor, and shoot the threes even though in the mid range area he did show a bit of improvement but he still rely on his athleticism. As you see the second Blake Griffin video he use his athletic ability that benefits not just for him but for also the team that finished above the rim, get in transition for easy baskets, and etc. Again, as I mentioned before he also use his strength at times when a defender is on him basically he rely his athleticism, and strength.
The next video is another good example, and another player who is also athletic that use his athletic ability to get into the basket rather it is in half court, or in transition rather it's in traffic, or not. He played a different position which is a point guard position, and I know you probably know who I am talking about now which I am talking about Russell Westbrook from Oklahoma Thunder.
Civic C:
On Civic C you see above the video highlight packages on Russell Westbrook shows how he contribute on offense, and even on defense. But as of right now I am focusing on offense which as you see the video below that Russell Westbrook is one the most athletic point guards in the NBA right now, and as you see he is very exposure when he get above the rim. He show fearless which I he is not only one of the most competitive player in the league but also the most fearless as well, and he use his athletic ability.
The thing I didn't mention earlier is that players like Russell Westbrook, and even Blake Griffin they are so athletic they use that as advantage in traffic when they get into the paint, or close to the paint, and they succeed because they can use their athletic ability to finished. Same apply in transition for easy baskets just like Blake Griffin he is the most athletic gifted players around the league even I wish I was athletic like him, or anyone who is athletic for that matter. The plus side for Russell Westbrook that when he first enter the league he isn't much of a good jump shooter rather mid-range area, or from the three point line but now he shows improvement on those areas. So, he doesn't really only rely on his athleticism.
The thing I didn't mention earlier is that players like Russell Westbrook, and even Blake Griffin they are so athletic they use that as advantage in traffic when they get into the paint, or close to the paint, and they succeed because they can use their athletic ability to finished. Same apply in transition for easy baskets just like Blake Griffin he is the most athletic gifted players around the league even I wish I was athletic like him, or anyone who is athletic for that matter. The plus side for Russell Westbrook that when he first enter the league he isn't much of a good jump shooter rather mid-range area, or from the three point line but now he shows improvement on those areas. So, he doesn't really only rely on his athleticism.
There are ton of other players who are athletic which I could give you more video example of those players on the offensive side but I will stop there which I am sure you get the point to this particular topic. Now, there are other aspect that players don't rely on athleticism on the offensive end such as shooting a jumper, or moving with out the ball to get open looks, set a screen, make a play, making cuts those kind of stuffs you don't have to rely on athleticism on the offensive side. The next benefit I am going to talk about now is on the defensive side.
Benefits on athletic players on defense
On the defensive side which base on individual defense, and team defense. Let's talk about team defense first it is best to have all five players that play five different positions that are athletic, and it will help to have a big man who is athletic, and mobile that can recover quickly. If those players can stay committed, buy in the coaching philosophy on not just on the offensive scheme but also the defensive scheme can be a very good defensive team.
If you got that, and plus you got load of players who are athletic it will makes the job much easier in terms of switch when necessary. Not lot of teams capable of doing that since they don't have the personal for it that can capable of playing defense, and can switch in any position plus recover quickly when needed. Let me give you a couple of videos to give you the example.
Civic D
The Milwaukee Bucks are a very good example of having the personal since they have the most athletic players in most of their positions. The video above is basically nearly nine minutes, and the person goes by the name coach Daniel that gives a good defensive observation on the defensive side for the Milwaukee Bucks keep in mind this video is from the 2016-2017 regular season. I think he did a great job giving his observation on the defensive side as you see the video how the Bucks played a solid defense with strong effort, and played hard defense. You see how switching, or recover so ease because they got some players who are athletic, and have long wingspan that help at times deflecting the ball to force turnovers, or give the opposing team trouble.
Keep in mind that they do have some players who are not athletic, nor not known as good defenders that can suffer the team defense players such as Jason Terry, Greg Monroe, and Jabari Parker. Not only the Milwaukee Bucks have the personal that committed the team defense plus have the athleticism that can switch, and recover quickly another team I am talking about is the defending NBA champions the Golden State Warriors.
Civic E
This is by coach Daniel again which give his observation regarding how the Golden State Warriors played team defense which was against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round playoffs from this past year. The Golden State Warriors do have some athletic players, and versatile to rotate, recover, and switch when necessary now keep in mind Stephen Curry is not known as a good defender individually but I think he is underrated on team defense which you can hide his individual defense with the personal the team have.
The Golden State Warriors could get away playing small when needed to which it will even help the switching in all five positions much easier since Zaza Pachulia isn't athletic, nor mobile enough to recover quickly, and it is a mismatch in the opposing team favor if they switch on him. Which you see lot of times for the Warriors to go small last season, and even in the playoffs including in the 2016-2017 NBA Finals. There is another good video I want you to check out regarding the Golden State Warriors team defense which is another good observation.
Overall on team defense the most important thing is have players stay committed, played hard, and played strong defense. If you got the personal with athletic players who are also agile, and mobile to quick enough to recover, can rotate, and can switch on all five positions will make jobs much easier, and it is very important in today's NBA. Now, I have discussed about the benefits on athletic players base on team defense the next thing is base on individual players.
You can't teach athleticism, and that statement is true. Not a whole lot of players are not gifted like some other players like not as athletic as the other but some who are not as athletic are solid defenders, or known as solid defenders such as Kirk Hinrich, Matthew Dellavedova, Tony Allen, and etc. There are some players who are athletic, and use their athletic ability to defend some players are even a three & D type of players such as Trevor Ariza, Courtney Lee, Kent Bazemore, Nicolas Batum, Wilson Chandler, and there are others.
As you can tell some of the names I mentioned are playing at the wings positions which I have not mention some other players who are athletic are big man that known as a shot blocker that can protect the rim, and use their athletic ability to switch when needed, or rotate. There are lot of bigs who are athletic, mobile, and are rim protectors such as Rudy Gobert, DeAndre Jordan, Hassan Whiteside, Gorgui Dieng, and can't forget about Draymond Green who is a powerforward but is athletic, and versatile that can defend all five positions when needed if the switch is necessary, and can rotate plus record quickly.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea that not all athletic bigs can even they known as a solid defender can't defend the pick and roll action, or can't stay on the guard, or a wing that can cause a bad match up in the opposing team favor. The pick & roll is probably the most difficult for most bigs to defend there are some bigs can defend the pick & roll well if they are mobile, and athletic Joakim Noah is a good example back in the days before the injuries pile up for him he was a good pick & roll defender that can switch, and defend the guard. He was also mobile which he is quick enough to recover, rotate, and when necessary switch but once again not all bigs even if they are athletic, nor mobile enough can't defend the pick & roll action.
Lot of athletic big man that can help that use their athletic ability to become a good help defender blocking shot such as Ibaka, DeAndre Jordan, and Rudy Gobert. Which all three rely on their athleticism on the defensive end to recover quickly in terms of help defense of course at the same time help defense is matter of timing, and give effort.
Lot of athletic big man that can help that use their athletic ability to become a good help defender blocking shot such as Ibaka, DeAndre Jordan, and Rudy Gobert. Which all three rely on their athleticism on the defensive end to recover quickly in terms of help defense of course at the same time help defense is matter of timing, and give effort.
Conclusion
I hope this gives you a better understand, and educated the benefits of acquiring players that are athletic in the NBA that can contribute, and how they contribute from both ends on the basketball court. Keep in mind getting athetlic players doesn't always mean they turn into gold getting players that are skilled is the most important you just don't want to end getting a player that are just athletic you want a player that are skilled, and understand how to use their athletic ability that can help the team on both ends.
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